Mick Schumacher surprises everyone with a strong qualifying performance at the IndyCar oval in Phoenix. But in the race, a technical defect destroys all hopes
It was Mick Schumacher’s first real test on an oval track—and it was like an emotional roller coaster ride in the Arizona desert. After a bitter retirement at the season opener in St. Petersburg, the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher put in a brilliant qualifying performance in Phoenix, which went unrewarded due to a technical fiasco in the pit lane during the race.
Schumacher had already caused a stir in the paddock on Friday. Since he was at the bottom of the championship standings after his early exit in Florida, he had to be the very first driver to go into the individual time trial – under normal circumstances a massive disadvantage, as the track still offers little grip.
But Schumacher burned up the asphalt with an average speed of 173.667 miles per hour (approx. 279.5 km/h), which remained the benchmark for almost 20 minutes. Only his experienced teammate Graham Rahal and the Penske duo David Malukas and Josef Newgarden were able to catch him. Starting fourth in his oval debut – that commanded respect even from the superstars. Newgarden, two-time IndyCar champion and later race winner, simply described Schumacher’s performance as “shockingly good.”
When the impact wrench robs you of hope
In Saturday’s race, everything seemed to be going according to plan at first. Schumacher held his own in the early stages and defended his position in the top 5. “I was surprised at how hectic it is out there,” Schumacher admitted after the race. “The cars come in damn fast, and when one comes in, the guys pull right through.”
But hopes for a top result were dashed at the first pit stop. A defect in the front impact wrench prevented a quick tire change. “That basically cost us a lap,” Schumacher summed up soberly. He found himself at the back of the field and was unable to make up the lost lap.
Learning process in “dirty air”
Instead of fighting for the podium, the rest of the race turned into an intensive test drive under real conditions for the 26-year-old. Schumacher ultimately finished the race in 18th place, one lap behind winner Newgarden.
Despite the frustrating result, Schumacher is looking at the positive aspects. Above all, he learned a lot about tire wear in oval racing. “It was a good understanding of the whole situation. You have to understand which direction the wear is going. At a certain point, the front tires were weaker, sometimes the rear.”
However, the driving pleasure was limited due to the circumstances: “Fun means being able to drive at the front and overtake. I didn’t feel that so much this time because the car felt a bit unsettled,” said Schumacher.
Conclusion: The speed is there, but luck is not yet
The weekend in Phoenix made two things clear: Schumacher has the talent to compete at the front even on ovals, which are so unfamiliar in Europe. His qualifying performance was no fluke, but the result of “silky smooth” footwork, which teammate Graham Rahal already acknowledged without envy.
However, in order to break the deadlock, RLL must eliminate the operational errors in the pits. The Honda with start number 47 definitely has the speed for podium finishes. The next chance for redemption will come on March 15 in the street canyons of Arlington.
